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A CHILD’S BOOK 
OF 

VERSES 



A CHILD’S BOOK 

of 

VERSES 


Raymond E. Manchester 


tIDf* Cali^tcte ^resa 

George Banta Pubushing Company 
Menasha, Wisconsin 



Copyright 1917 
by 

R. E. MANCHESTER 



0>CI.A467()97 

JUL -2 1917 

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4 


Inscribed 

TO 

Mary Jane 

AND 

Her Mother 




A Child's Book of Verses 


MAKE-BELIEVE 

Today we played at make-believe 
And grandpa was the baby. 
Mother was the little girl, 

And I, a great big lady. 

We had a lunch of ginger-bread 
And poured out “pretend” tea. 
I passed the plate to mother, 
Then she passed it back to me. 





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A Child's Book of Verses 


MISTER ANGLEWORM 

After rain comes on the lawn 
And all the thunder clouds are gone, 

The dirt lifts up beneath the fern, 

And out comes Mister Angleworm. 

He humps his back, then lengthens out. 
And pokes his pointed nose about: 

He loves to roll, and stretch, and squirm. 
This lazy Mister Angleworm. 

Then Mrs. Robin hops along. 

For she knows where good worms belong. 
She gives her head a saucy turn. 

And, down goes Mister Angleworm. 


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A Child's Book of Verses 


ROBIN RED-BREAST 

Little Robin Redbreast 
Hopping along; 
Looking for worms 
Upon the green lawn. 
Hop along, listen! 

Hop along, stop! 

Pull out a long one. 
Then, 

Hop along, hop. 



A Child's Book of Verses 


MY BROTHER 

The doctor came today at four, 

And hurried in at our front door. 
’Most every other person knocks, 
But he just walked in with his box. 
I had to go with Fritz to play. 

And nurse told me to stay away. 
But I ran home to see my mother. 
And there beside her was a brother. 
He had the cutest little toes 
And little wrinkles on his nose. 

But had an awful reddy face 
From being in the doctor’s case. 









A Child's Book of Verses 


BED TIME 

My daddy reads me stories, 
Of what the fairies said. 

I climb in his lap 
For a short little nap, 
And wake up tucked in bed. 



A Child's Book of Verses 


APRIL EVENING 

A robin sings in the garden. 
The sun is big and red. 

My mother sings 
Of birds and things, 

And I go to sleep in my bed. 


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A Child's Book of Verses 


IN WINTER 

I think it fun in Winter 

When it snows and blows outside, 
For then my daddy plays at horse 
And takes me for a ride. 

My mother cuts out dollies 

And makes them paper clothes ; 
My grandpa builds me castles 
Out of blocks and dominoes. 


A Child's Book of Verses 


MY GRANDPA 

I have a gray-haired Grandpa 
Who wears whiskers on his chin, 

And there’s no one in the world I like 
As well as I like him. 

He wakes me in the morning 

With a “Hello, Snoop-en-dyke,” 

And puts his head in at the door 
To ask me who I like. 

He helps me button on my shoes 
With mother’s buttonhook. 

Then fastens up my corset 
While I read my bunny book. 

Sometimes he brings me candy 
Or chewing gum to chew. 

And when it is my birthday 
He brings me toys, too. 

He always mends my dollies. 

And he never does play rough; 

So I think that I will marry him 
When I grow big enough. 













A Child's Book of Verses 


LITTLE SISTER 

Come, little sister, 
Do not cry: 

Daddy must work 
For you and I. 

Do not pout. 

Or fret, or fuss: 

He will soon 
Come back to us. 
He likes us best 
When we behave. 
So, little sister. 

Just be brave. 


A Child's Book of Verses 


THE CIRCUS PARADE 

A big toot-toot, 

And a funny clown; 

A lady in 
A gorgeous gown ; 

A six-horse team 
On a wild-west stage ; 

A man in tights 
In the lion’s cage; 

The negro minstrels 
Sing a song, 

And then the camel 
Comes along. 

Last of all. 

The farmer band; 

Then we go 

To the peanut stand. 

I buy some 
Yellow lemonade. 

And that is the last 
Of the circus-parade. 






A Child's Book of Verses 


RAINY DAYS 

On rainy days I play inside, 

And get out my gray horse to ride. 

I fill up my big saddle sack, 

And take a ride to town and back. 

I like a rainy day or two. 

For then my toys all seem like new ; 

And no one asks me, “What’s the matter?” 
If I do make quite a clatter. 


A Child's Book of Verses 


THE WIND 

There’s one thing I can’t figure out, 
When all the leaves are blown about; 
And that is where the wind is from, 
For I can’t see it go and come. 

It helps the birds upon their way 
And moves the ships upon the bay: 
It puts a kiss upon my cheek. 

And makes the waves upon the creek. 
I hope some day to understand 
Why wind blows over sea and land. 
















